Successful Blog

Give Customers the Best Mobile Experience Possible

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smartphone-1894723_640How much mobility would you say your business has as the New Year unfolds?

While many businesses are on top of their mobile games, others are woefully dragging behind. For those in the latter group, missed opportunities to connect with consumers and bring in more revenue are but two of the pitfalls of such inaction.

Assuming you do not want to end up in that latter group, it is important that you do all you can to have a sound mobile app presence. When you do, there are many more opportunities to grow your brand and be seen as a leader in your respective niche.

So, are you prepared to give customers the best mobile experience possible?

Being a Frontrunner in Mobile Apps and Marketing

In order for your brand to get as much positive promotions and feedback as possible, being a major player with mobile apps services is important.

With your mobile game in play, you should focus on:

  • Marketing – Having a mobile app in play for your business gives you the opportunity to expand your marketing promotions like never before. Take into account the fact that millions of consumers use their respective mobile devices on a daily basis. As a result, you can literally reach out to them anytime and anywhere. For example, do you have a new special promotion you’d like them to know about? If so, simply sending the message out via your mobile app is a great start. You may decide to throw in a digital coupon offer that saves them money on their purchases. Whatever your promotion is, make sure your mobile marketing messages spell it out loud and clearly;
  • Appearance – Even if you have some of the best products and/or services you want the world to know about, how you put that message out there is important. Keep in mind that mobile devices give you less of a screen view than a regular laptop or desktop computer. As such, if your message doesn’t properly fit on the screen of a mobile device, not only can your brand look unprofessional, but you may not get your entire message out there. Be sure that the design is what you want it to be, giving customers the best user experience possible when viewing your message;
  • Feedback – Finally, expect and accept the consumer feedback you receive regarding your mobile app. Yes, some of it may be critical at times, but take those opportunities as a chance to improve the user experience for consumers. Without ever knowing what they like and do not like, how can you expect to come up with the perfect mobile app? Without duplicating their efforts, also take some time to see how competitors are using their mobile apps to build business. By seeing what kind of feedback they receive from consumers, it will give you a few ideas of what to do and not to do with yours.

Don’t Shortcut Your Brand on Mobility

Lastly, mobile apps are not going anywhere anytime soon, so educate you and your staff on how important they are in growing your brand.

As important as using your mobile app for sales is, don’t forget other options for your app.

For starters, load your app up with relevant content and videos.

When it comes to content, you can provide articles not only talking about your products and services, but what your overall industry is doing.

For example, if you’re a Realtor with a mobile app for business, articles on trends in the real estate market would be quite worthwhile to those individuals and families looking to buy or sell properties. You can (and should) also add videos to the app, something that is usually a sure winner with consumers. By showcasing different properties on your app, potential buyers and sellers can look at different homes and/or condos right in the palm of their hands.

It is safe to say that mobility within your business is important now and will continue so down the road.

When you give customers the best mobile experience possible, they are apt to keep coming back.

Photo credit: Pixabay

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web.

Give Your Website Some Added Muscle

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muscles-811479_640 (1)When was the last time you gave your business website a thorough review?

If it has been a long period of time in between reviews, why not start the New Year off by doing just that?

Without a website to anchor your business, you may very well survive when all is said and done. On the other hand, not having a website may be the one key ingredient preventing you from taking your business onward and upward.

Even though having a website is not a guarantee to being a successful business, having one certainly enhances your ability to not only spread the word about your brand, but know what competitors are up to.

That said is it time you gave your website some added muscle?

Starting Off with the Right Formula

Just putting together a website does not guarantee you automatic success.

Keep in mind that your website needs to generate traffic, traffic that you hope will convert from bystanders into customers. With that being the goal, how will you bring a sizable amount of traffic to your site?

Among the ways to go about it:

  • Linking up with winners – If you have your own team aboard to assist you with creating and managing your website, you’re already a step ahead. On the other hand, you may determine that it is best to outsource your website needs, at least in terms of creating it and ultimately doing all the labor. The last option is having a mix of in-house efforts, combining them with some outsourcing. No matter what final call you end up making, be sure to choose wisely if reaching outside your firm for help. For instance, would you benefit from using a link building service? Such a provider can offer you editorial links, links that will hopefully send consumers towards your website. Most notably used in blog content, those links can be like gold, especially if it leads a consumer to buy a product or service from you after reading about you somewhere online. If you opt for working with a link building company, be sure to scout them so that you know not only what they offer, but their track record of success;
  • Dealing in deals – What consumer doesn’t like a deal? Your website should regularly promote any specials that you are offering. As the deals take flight, consumers are likely to spread the word to family and friends. In turn, you now stand a good chance of increasing your web traffic day after day. Even on days you’re not offering specials, some intrigued consumers will visit your site to see what you are up to.

Socialize the Website User Experience

  • Don’t Be Shy – Last but not least, how social are you in promoting your website? When it comes right down to it, being shy about your website is a recipe for few visitors and ultimately disaster. There’s a reason CEOs are tweeting and other business heads are sharing etc. on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and other social sites. The bottom line; being social about your brand does wonders for it. For example, do you have a new product or service you want to try out with the public? If so, spreading the word on social media is a great move. Not only will more consumers know about it, but you can also get instantaneous feedback in many cases. Finally, social media allows you to hear the chatter about some or all of your competition. Just by listening in, you know where you may be gaining or losing ground with them.

Yes, running a business demands much of your time. In fact, you may feel like there are not enough hours in a day in some cases.

So that your business can be as productive as possible, make sure your website has a spot high up on your list of needs.

With a productive website anchoring your business, your company can flex its muscles, outshining the competition day after day.

Photo credit: Pixabay

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web.

 

Your Marketing Funnel is Actually a Rube Goldberg Device

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The traditional marketing funnel is gone, folks.

It’s been replaced by a gigantic, unpredictable, over-the-top Rube Goldberg device.

Giant rube goldberg device
Foto: Johannes Abeling

 

There was a time when the “marketing funnel” was as simple as a consumer seeing a television ad, driving to the store, looking for your branded product, and then purchasing it.

Now, the consumer of that same product can receive a suggestion from his Amazon Echo, then decide to go read some reviews online, get sidetracked by a related (native advertising) article on the product, ask a few questions of the live chatbot on the product ordering page, decide to wait until Christmas, then go into a physical store to make the purchase.

This critical shift in the consumer mindset is going to require a similar shift in the marketing mindset.

5 Key Mindset Shifts to Deal with the New Marketing Funnel Reality

First of all, it’s not linear – the original funnel concept assumed that the customer went through a defined, linear process that was highly predictable. With the new, complex customer journey, there are sidetracks, cul de sacs, and fast-forwards. Each facet of your marketing approach needs to be able to stand alone, to account for consumers who jump into the middle of your marketing/sales process.

Second, you don’t know what they know – studies have claimed that up to 70% of the pre-purchase research is done before the customer even approaches a salesperson. In the new mindset, you can’t just launch into a canned pitch. You need to do a lot of questioning and listening, to find out what the person already knows or assumes about your product. This is so important to start building trust with your customer.

Third, agility is key – your marketing content arsenal needs to be diverse and refreshed frequently. You absolutely must be willing to experiment, pivot, and A/B test like a mad scientist. Schedule time to look at your analytics on a regular basis to see where your customers are coming from, where they’re going on your website, and which content is resonating (or not). Don’t forget to ask your prospects about their journey when you speak to them as well. “Oh, I decided to visit your site after an agency friend of mine recommended you at a conference I just attended.”

Fourth, spread your wings – the old funnel had a single output. You could stand there and take in the leads. Now, you need to put yourself out there and be ready to catch the ball wherever it emerges from the Rube Goldberg device. The new customer might reach out via a Tweet, a Facebook comment, an email, or by filling out your online inquiry form. It’s imperative that you have someone available to “answer the phone,” whatever that means to your customer.

Oh, and fifth, sales is different now too – HBR described this piece of the sales shift in an excellent article. The old sales playbook has been tossed out along with the marketing funnel.

How are you dealing with the new marketing funnel reality?

 

 

Author’s Bio: Rosemary O’Neill is an insightful spirit who works for Social Strata — makers of the Hoop.la community platform. Check out the Social Strata blog. You can find Rosemary on Google+ and on Twitter as @rhogroupee

Featured image via Flickr CC: Arne Hendriks

The Value of Words

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The Value of Words

When I was a small child my mother had a simple cardboard box in which she kept toys in closet. She believed that we would value our toys more if we didn’t always have all of them all around us to play with. So every few months she would take the toys that she felt we had grown tired of and put them in the box in the closet. Then she’d replace them with some of the toys from the box we hadn’t see for a long while.

It would be as if those old, forgotten toys were new when she brought them out again!

It doesn’t take much to make me think of that old cardboard box. I often wish we had a box like that for words that we’ve used too much — words we’ve grown so familiar with that they’ve lost meaning.

Imagine if we could make some words new again … restore them back to their original meaning.

Words like . . .

peace

joy

wonder

good will

wishes

awesome

irresistible

Take a moment to savor the words you use to define yourself, to describe the people you value, and to share your feelings about the people you value with them.

Stop to value what’s dear and delight in the familiar.

Be irresistible,

Liz

Put Your Mind to It

The words we choose are like the stories we tell. Without realizing their effect, choosing and using them changes us — how we see ourselves and how others see us. Consider the phrases you use without thinking, like answering, “I’m fine,” when people ask how you are. Try saying, “I’m fabulous.” Watch how that changes your day.

More from Liz . . . about the Value of Words

Images & Words: Are You Ready to Make Opportunity and Change the World?

How Do Get You People to Stop Listening to Words and Start Hearing Ideas?

Build Mobility for Your Business

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ios-1091302_640

As 2016 nears its close, what sights do you have set on the New Year, allowing you to take your business to new heights?

For some business owners, a new year can mean many new twists and turns. Others, meantime, will play things closer to the vest, looking to not deviate too far from what they have done over the last 12 months.

That said having a business that is not weak when it comes to technology is crucial, especially in a business world where tech is seemingly always playing a part.

So, are you ready to build more mobility for your business as 2017 unfolds?

Where Do You Start?

In the event you feel the need to put more mobility into your business, where do you start?

It is typically best to begin by assessing where your needs are most prevalent.

Are you a business that is behind the curve when it comes to technology? If so, why is that the case?

For some business owners, it comes down to embracing technology, not fearing it for one reason or another.

With the right technology on your side, your business can do myriad of things. Most notably, you can meet the demands of many customers, many of whom are big on technology.

That said does your business have an app? If the answer is no, 2017 would be a great time to come up with one.

If you are wondering about how to make an app, it actually isn’t as hard as one might think.

Whether you make the app in-house or outsource such needs, having that app ready to do business is where you need to get to.

In the event you decide to stay in-house in your efforts to make an app, you may have already hired someone (or more than one individual) more than capable of doing it.

Should you need to go outside for such help, you are best-served by doing some homework, seeing which companies (or even individuals) are qualified to put an app together for you.

Among the areas to look at:

  • How long have they been designing apps?
  • What are the approximate costs for them to design your app?
  • What kind of guarantees will they provide so that you truly get what you pay for (and need)?
  • Will they be available whenever you need them to answer pertinent questions and/or fix any problems your app presents you with?

Once you have the design of your app going, you can then focus on where your app is destined to take you.

Putting Your App to Work

So that you are able to truly understand how a mobile app can catapult your business forward in 2017 and beyond, keep these factors in mind:

  • Numbers – First and foremost, more and more consumers these days are using technology to not only shop for goods and services, but ultimately purchase them. As a result, you’re literally going to be left behind if you do not fully embrace technology. Consumers will also look at your business with more respect when you have your own app, knowing you are staying up to date with the times;
  • Speed – While there are still some businesses out there that avoid technology as much as possible (they seem to become fewer and fewer by the year), many companies love the speed with which technology can bring them together with consumers. That said see how having an app changes the fortunes of your business in many cases. With a successful mobile app in play, you can be in contact literally instantly with many consumers, giving you an opportunity to beat the competition to the punch.

Once you have a handle on how you will build your app, be prepared to move forward with marketing and using it when ready.

In the end, the app will build mobility for your business, something that ultimately should translate into more dollars and cents.

Photo credit: Pixabay

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web.

 

 

 

4 Tips to Attract the Best Employees

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team-1697987_640In running your business, are you doing everything conceivable in order to attract the best employees?

As the New Year draws ever closer, now would be a good time to assess how you are going about bringing in new talent.

Keep in mind that hiring such talent is not simply the result of placing a help wanted advertisement online and/or in the newspaper.

Not only do you have to get qualified candidates through the door for the interview process, but you then have to determine which one or ones are best positioned to help your business moving forward. As you might imagine, there are no 100 percent guarantees when you hire someone. They could be one of the best workers ever to come through your doors or one of the biggest mistakes you will end up making.

That said do you know how best to go about attracting the top employees?

Incentives Can Go a Long Way

So that you are able to have the best odds of bringing in and keeping to-flight employees, remember these four tips:

  1. Workplace – First and foremost, do you have a workplace environment that is second-to-none? For many workers in today’s workplace, having a place to call home for many years is not the norm. In many cases, employees will use one job to eventually get to another one. In doing so, they may turn out to be great workers in their time at a place, though they could also turn out to be real duds. By offering a workplace environment that is inclusive and makes people feel welcome, you stand a better chance of getting solid employees, employees willing to go the extra mile for you and ultimately stick around;
  2. Incentives – Offering your employees incentives will be a great means to keep them around, not to mention make sure they are happy during their time with you. For example, solid group benefits for employees are a great place to start. Given how expensive medical insurance is becoming for many individuals these days, paying for a sizable portion of their medical needs oftentimes proves a big help for both you and the employee. If you’re worried about the costs becoming too astronomical for you, shop around for the best medical plans out there. In doing so, you can oftentimes find a plan that is financially cost-effective for you when all is said and done. Other incentives include not only increases in salary over time, but also the ability to grow within the company (see more below).

Don’t Overlook Growth Importance

  1. Growth – When it comes to growth, many workers will state that having a chance to climb up the corporate ladder is important to them. Without those opportunities for growth, some employees will feel like they are simply going through the motions each day, something that is a problem for you and your customers. Be sure to make growth opportunities one of your key offerings when sitting down and interviewing candidates;
  2. Honesty – Lastly, don’t you like it when employees are honest with you? Assuming the answer is yes, you need to return that ounce of respect. If you don’t, you can lose people (both figuratively and literally) before you know it. Be honest with workers when there are problems, be they with the individuals themselves or the company in general. If you see cutbacks coming down the road, don’t wait until the last minute to inform those impacted by them. Also speak honestly in grading one’s performance level. If you’re not honest with them, you hurt both them and your business overall.

As a business owner, how do you go about attracting the best employees to keep your company churning along?

Photo credit: Pixabay

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web.